Stove construction



Nov. 24, 1942. A. NELSON ETAL sTovE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 13, 1941 '3 sneetspsheet 1 Y ff Nov. 24, 1942. 'A NELSON UAL 2,302,880

STOVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 werd/kwam BY WUZCZH Lanzan/f INVENIOR5- Patented Nov. 24, 1942 www-f STOVE CONSTRUCTION Averd Nelson and Harold H. Niemann, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., assignors to Prentiss Wabers Products C0., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 13, 1941, Serial No. 374,214

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved portable stove and more particularly to a stove of this character operated by vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stove which comprises a compact housing and is readily portable.

It is a further object to provide a stove which is composed largely of sheet metal parts and is light in weight.

It is also an object to provide a stove with the burner so located relative to the housing in use that air openings in the bottom of the housing are unnecessary for efficient operation.

It is another object to provide a stove in which the handle serves as a stove support with the parts in operating position, other parts holding the handle positively in supporting relationship.

It is an additional object to provide a stove manifold comprising interlocked sheet metal parts with a fiat upper face and burners welded thereto.

It is a further object to provide an efficient stove composed of but few and simple parts and adapted for commercial production.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

We have shown certain preferred embodiments of our invention in the accompanying drawings,

' in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the stove in the housing, with the parts of the stove shown in broken lines;

Figure 2 is an end view of the housing of Figure l, as seen from the left;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the stove in open operating condition;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3; and

of substantia'y lesser depth at their opposite l edges adjacent the latch I4 carried .by the member I2. The bail or handle i5 is secured to the member II by means of the bracket I6. The

spring latch Mi snaps over the bracket I5, se-

curing the housing parts together in closed position. The hinges I3 are provided with iiattened portions I'i which serve as feet to support the housing when resting on any surface while in closed position with the bail or handle up.

The housing members II and I2 are preferably` formed of metal stampings and have the out'- .wardly embossed sections I8 and I9 formed thereon, these serving not only to add to the appearance of the housing, but also to stiffen the housing members, and to render them more rigid. It will be understood that the bail bracket clip, latch and hinges may be spot-welded or otherwise secured to the housing members. The housing is pleasing in design'and has the general appearance of a small handbag or brief case; It compactly designed with the greater part of the weight adjacent the bottom or hinge side so that it will be stable when placed in the Yposition shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The stove enclosed in the housingis shown'in operating position in Figures 3 and 4. The housing member Il is swung down to rest cn the portions IS and also upon the bail or handle I5 which is turned downwardly as clearly shown in Figure 4. The member i2 is swung upwardly at an angle of approximately 90. The manifold 2.2i is L-shaped in general form, comprising a bottom member 2I which is arcuate incross-section, with cutturned flanges 22 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The manifold has the upper member 23, the greater part of whose surface area is flat, this member having inturned edges 24 crimped around in substantially gas-tight contact with the outturned flanges 22 of the lower member.

The manifold is supported from the inner face of member II by means of the bracket 25. This bracket 25 is provided with spaced upturned ends 26 and 2l which are each formed with an arcuate recess 23 to receive the manifold. 'They are also yprovided with inturned ears 29 and 3i) which engage the upper face of the manifold to hold it firmly in place. It will be apparent that since the bracket Z5 is formed of sheet metal, the ears 29 and Gli may be readily bent to permit insertion of the manifold, and when returned to position after insertion of the manifold will rigidly hold the parts in assembled relation.

The upper plate 23 of the manifold is provided with an opening 3| having vdownturned edges,

,as shown in Figure 4, and a main burner 32 is lspot-welded to the manifold concentric with the ,valve guide also serves to prevent leakage of liquid fuel which may condense at this point.

The bracket 39 is spot-welded to the lower portion of the burner plate 34 and pivotally supports the valve actuating bell crank lever 40 which has a portion fitting in the groove 4I formed in the valve stem 36. The lever 40 also has an upturned end 42 to slidably receive the inner end of the Valve operating lever 43. This lever 43 also is supported in an upturned flange 44 formed on the opposite end of the bell crank lever 40.

The upper portions of the burners, as shown in Figure 6, are provided with large perforations 45 which are covered by a perforated plate 46 having very ne perforations for the passage of the combustible gas. The L-shaped foot of the manifold carries the Venturi member 41 which is shown in the form of a casting having a lower end 48 fitting through an opening in the upper manifold plate 23. This casting is provided with a iiange 49 resting on a gasket 50 and is held in place by collar I preferably formed of stamped vmetal and having ears bent over against the `under side of the flange of the manifold. The rear of the manifold assembly is supported at this point lby the clip 52, which is spot-welded to the inner face of the bottom of housing member II.

The air intake shield 53 is fitted on the manifold between the Venturi member 41 and the burner 32, and is provided with an opening receiving the small end of the Venturi member 41. An air intake opening 54 is located below the Venturi, and an inturned ange 55 forms an opening to receive the end 56 of the gas generator tube 51. The member 53, therefore, serves as a combination generator support, air intake shield and venturi support. This member is held in place on the manifold by inturned ears, one of which is indicated in broken lines at 58.

The gas tank 59 is provided with the usual `iiller plug 69 and supports the valve body 6I,

which in turn supports the generator` tube 51. This valve body 6I is shown as provided with -the usual main control valve 62 and the starter valve 63. The particular structure of these valves forms no part of the present invention. The tank 59 has welded thereto the supporting bracket 64. This bracket 64 has an upper inwardly extending portion 55 with an inturned end adapted to hook over the edge of housing member I I, as shown in Figure 4. In addition, the bracket is provided with a lower inwardly extending flange 66 which is notched to engage the end portions of the bail I5. These notches, tting over the bail, serve to firmly hold the bail in place as a support for the stove and also to maintain the tank and generator tube assembly in proper assembled relation and alignment with the Aventuri and burner assembly. It will be noted that the size of the bail is such that when it is in the position of Figure 4 the burners are brought to a horizontal position with the portion of the housing member il adiacent the bail held up above the adjacent support.

The grate 61 is pivotally supported from the housing member I I by means of hinges 68, shown in Figure 3. This grate as shown in Figure 4 .has an arcuate portion and down-turned portion adjacent the bottom of the housing. with a flat portion extending over the burners when the stove is in operating position. as shown in Figure 4. The front edge of the grate 51 is supported by the sheet metal member 69, which is hingedly Yconnected to the front edge of the grate and which has its lower edge resting on the line of junction between the bracket 64 and the tank 59. This member 69 has a notched out portion 10 to permit passage of the generator tube 51, as shown in Figure 3. This member 69 serves as a support for the front edge of the grate, but also serves as a heat baflie and a burner shield to shield the burners from windvblowing in from the front of the stove.

The housing member I2 is held in upright position, as shown in Figure 4, by means of the windshield wings 1I) and 1I. These wings are supported from the member I2 by pivots 12 formed integrally with the wings and iitting in perforated support lugs 13 struck inwardly from the wall of the housing member I2. The wings are also provided with integral struckup stop members 14. These members 14 are adapted to engage the adjacent end wallsof the member I2 to put the wings under tension when they are in operating position. They are placed in operating position by being swung outwardly, as shown in Figure 3, and notch portions 15 are then hooked over the upper edge of the bottom member II. Since the wings are formed of resilient sheet metal, the stops 14 act to resiliently hold the notches 15 in. engagement and maintain the parts in assembled relation.

To close up the stove from the operating position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the grate 61 is swung upwardly so that shield 69 clears the tank assembly. The valve operating lever 43 for the valve controlling the second burner is slidably carried by the bell crank lever 49, and is pushed inwardly so that its looped handle end is within the housing member II. The tank and generator valve assembly is lifted so that the inwardly extending portion 65 of the bracket 64 is unhooked from the upper edge of the member II. The tank may be then drawn outwardly so that the generator tube 51 clears the opening in the air intake shield 53. The grate is then swung upwardly so that the tank and generator assembly may be reversed and placed in position in the member I I, with the tank located between the burner assembly and the hinge side of the member, with the tank fitting down in this deeper portion of the housing. The generator tube 51 then extends toward the open edge of member II, all these parts being indicated in broken lines in this position in Figure 1. The shield 69 is then swung inwardly against the under face of the adjacent portion of grate 61, when the grate may be lowered so that its front edge iits down adjacent the front edge of the housing member II.

The two Windshields 10 and 1I are swung slightly outwardly to release the notches 15 from the edge of the housing member II, after which both shields are swung upwardly and inwardly against the inner face of housing member I2. The upper housing member I2 is now swung downwardly upon member II, the catch I4 snapping over the hinged bracket I6 of the bail I5.

It will be understood that the stove is placed in assembled operative position by reversal of the above described process. With the parts in the packed position, the tank is located in the larger lower portion of the housing which gives the stove assembly stability when it is standing on a support while in closed position, in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2. The housing is compact and affords no waste space when the parts are in a closed position.

The stove, when in operative position, is rigidly supported at its front end by the bail I5, which is positively locked and held in position by the bracket Si carried by the tank. Due to the comparatively shallow depth of the bottom housing when in this position, it is unnecessary to provide openings in the housing to admit air for combustion. The burners are located above the actual edge of the supporting portion of the housing, and the grate is located in such position that adequate air may come in around the burners. The burners are shielded in front by the hinged support member 69. The lateral shields are compact and serve also to support the upper housing member in its vertical position.

It will be noted that the stove as shown includes only a single casting, that being the Venturi member ill. All of the remaining parts are formed of sheet metal stampings which may be held in assembled relationship by means of spot-welding. The design reduces the number of parts necessary to a minimum, and these parts may be inexpensively and rapidly produced by commercial processes. The manifold is formed of two stampings, having an upper at sheet metal member to which the burners may readily be welded to secure an effectively gas-tight connection. This welded manifold may be cheaply constructed and substantially reduces the weight of the stove over that which would be required by a cast iron manifold. The burner assembly 1s rigidly supported in the housing by the bracket 25 and the rear bracket 52. It may, however, be readily removed by bending the retaining lugs on bracket 25. Its original assembly is effected quickly and easily by means of these lugs. The inwardly extruded valve guide at the second burner effectively traps in the manifold any gas condensed at this point. The upper nat manifold member has upwardly embossed portions over which the openings in the burner bottom plates 34 fit to make effective the gas-tight joint with these bottom plates when these are welded on the upper manifold member.

ceive the fuel tank, a handle secured to the housing adjacent the free edges of the housing parts, said handle being of a size to be'swung downwardly and serve as a support for the housing with the housing opened and the stove in operative position, the fuel tank fitting outside the housing with the stove in operating position, and means on the fuel tank engaging the handle to maintain the handle in supporting position.

3. A portable stove comprising a two-part housing, a burner assembly carried in one part of the housing and projecting above the edge While we have shown certain preferred embodiments of our invention, these are to be understood to be illustrative only and We contemplate such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable stove construction comprising a two-part housing hinged together along one edge, the housing parts being of greater depth adjacent the hinged edges and decreasing 4in depth toward the free edges, a burner assembly secured in the housing, the closed housing having space therein adjacent the hinge edge to receive the fue] tank, and a handle secured to the housing adjacent the free edges of the housing parts, said handle being of a size to be swung downwardly and serve as a support for the free edge side of the housing with the housing opened, the opposite side of the housing resting directly upon the support surface and the stove in operative position.

2. A portable stove construction comprising a two-part housing hinged together along one edge, the housing parts being of greater depth adjacent the hinged edges and decreasing in depth toward the free edges, a burner assembly secured in the housing, the closed housing having space therein adjacent the hinge edge to reof said housing part, a grate having an arcuate portion hingedly secured adjacent one edge of the housing and having a substantially flat portion extending downwardly from the arcuate portion to the opposite edge of the housing with the parts in portable position, and a support hinged to the free edge of the grate adapted to be swung to supporting position to raise the free edge and to hold the hat grate portion horizontal with the stove in operating position.

4. A portable stove comprising a two-part housing, a burner assembly carried in one part of the housing and projecting above the edge of said housing part, a fuel tank connected to the burner assembly and located outside the housing when in operating position, a grate having an arcuate portion hingedly secured adjacent one edge of the housing and having a substantially flat portion extending downwardly from the varcuate portion to the opposite edge of the housing with the parts in portable position, and a sheet metal support hinged to the free edge of the grate adapted to be swung to supporting position to hold the flat grate portion horizontal with the stove in operating position and to serve as a heat baiile for' the fuel tank and a windshield for the burners.

5. A portable stove comprising a two-part housing, a burner assembly carried in one part of the housing and projecting above the edge of said housing part, a grate having an arcuate portion hingedly secured adjacent one edge of the housing and having a substantially flat portion extending downwardly from the arcuate portion to the opposite edge of the housing with the parts in portable position, a fuel tank having a bracket hooked over the last named edge of the housing to support the fuel tank externally of the housing for operationof the stove, and a support hinged to the grate and adapted to engage the tank bracket to maintain the tank in position and support the at grate portion ysubstantially horizontally above the burners.

6. A portable stove comprising a two-part housing, one housing part supporting the stove burners, the second housing part being adapted to be swung substantially vertically with the stove in operatin-g condition, lugs struck inwardly from the second part, windshields having integral hinge portions fitting the housing lugs, notches formed in the windshields to engage the edges of the rst housing part, said windshields being formed of resilient metal and having struckup portions engaging the housing to flex the metal and maintain the parts in assembled relation with the windshields swung outwardly and the notches engaging the housing.

AVERD NELSON. HAROLD H. NIEMANN. 

